Cavani expecting red-hot Ronaldo in Champions League showdown

Edinson Cavani expects Cristiano Ronaldo to be at his most dangerous when Paris Saint-Germain face Real Madrid in the Champions League last 16.

The Portugal star struggled badly for form in domestic competition in the first half of the season, scoring just four goals in 15 LaLiga appearances.

The 33-year-old has shown signs of returning to his very best in 2018, though, hitting seven goals in his last three league matches, including a hat-trick in Saturday's 5-2 win over Real Sociedad.

Ronaldo has also remained consistent in Europe, netting nine goals in Madrid's six group games this term, and Cavani does not think he will struggle to make his mark when his PSG side visit the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday.

3 - Cristiano Ronaldo is the first player to score a perfect hat-trick in La Liga this season (right foot, left foot and head). Machine. pic.twitter.com/OPU0bdQ8OR

"It will be special to play against a Madrid with so much history. It makes you want to jump onto the pitch. But it'll be tough. We're facing an opponent with a lot of experience and players who can make the difference at any minute.

"I don't know if it's going to be a game with a lot of goals. I don't think so. The away leg, at least, is always tighter. They won't want us to score and the away team usually waits for the counter-attack.

"Sometimes it's useless to predict things because football is unpredictable. It'll be an even match and one where the defence works a lot."

PSG's knockout campaign ended in dramatic fashion in Spain last year, as they saw a 4-0 first-leg lead over Barcelona overturned by a spectacular 6-1 defeat at Camp Nou.

But Cavani believes his side have learned a lot from that last-16 exit, adding: "We lost an incredible match, but it was part of this club's path. We lost and learned. This PSG is a renewed one, with a lot of experience. It all adds up."